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Business blooms for florists

Debbie Fearing, owner of Flower Bug in Grand Forks, works on an arrangement in her shop Wednesday. Mother's Day accounts for nearly 1/4 of florists annual business with arrangements starting at $40 or $50. Herald photo by John Stennes.

Mother's Day follows on the heels of area high school proms this weekend, and area flower shops are busy.

The Society of American Florists estimates that Mother's Day brings florists one-quarter of their yearly business. Local shops have stocked up in preparation.

"We just order more of everything for Mother's Day," said Jessica Link, manager of Rose Flower Shop in Grand Forks.

Their shop fills more than 400 orders each Mother's Day, Link estimated, similar to the demand on Valentine's Day.

With hundreds of extra orders to fill, florists still have to do the daily business of supplying flowers for birthdays, weddings and funerals. So, it's no surprise that some shops temporarily double their staffs for the days leading up to Mother's Day.

"Usually, we'll have anywhere between two and three people working," said Dianna Strebig, an employee at East Grand Floral in East Grand Forks. "On a busy day, it could be up to eight or nine."

This year, a cold spring has helped heighten demand for bright bouquets.

"Since spring is coming, we tend to do a lot of tulips, especially with the kind of weather we've been having," said Debbie Fearing, owner of Flower Bug in Grand Forks.

Containers are varied: Bouquets burst out of vases, pails, pitchers and baskets. There's even a margarita glass with a "perfectly pink carnation cocktail" and a promise that mom will "toast your thoughtfulness for many happy hours to come." (It's available from Flower Bug.)

Potted plants also are a popular option at All Seasons Garden Center in Grand Forks, said manager Jan Heitmann. Customer Barb Nordstog from Thompson, N.D., said she usually sends her mother in Bismarck a bouquet but might send a geranium plant this year.

"She likes things that last a long time," Nordstog said.

The most frequent customers for Mother's Day flowers are men, local florists report.

"It's a lot of husbands definitely," Link said.

The customers are mostly men at Flower Bug, too, Fearing said. Most men buying Mother's Day bouquets are husbands or adult children because "teenagers right now -- they're worried about prom."

But even though she owns a flower shop, Fearing has trouble getting flowers for herself on Mother's Day.

"I know my husband doesn't understand. 'Why do I have to get flowers for you? You're not my mom.' Well, because I'm the one that does everything for you, not your mom anymore," Fearing said.